Sleep Apnea

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What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a disorder in which a person pauses breathing or produces shallow breathing.  Pauses in breathing could be a little as a few seconds or longer as in a few minutes throughout the night.  Many people attribute snoring exclusively to snoring though snoring may only be a  symptom of restricted airflow and does not always indicate sleep apnea.  

Types of apneas:

Sleep apnea can be either an obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or a central sleep apnea (CSA).  Obstructive sleep apnea is where the flow of air into the lungs is blocked or interrupted.  This could be due to a narrow airway, excessive tissue, crowded dental arches, relaxed tongue, and/or retrusive mandible (lower jaw).  

Central sleep apnea is where a patient's brain is telling the patient to stop or slow their own breathing.  These patients will need constant airway management to ensure proper breathing throughout the night.  

How do I know if I have sleep apnea?    

The best and most effective way to see if you have sleep apnea is to have a sleep study completed.  These can be either completed using a home sleep test (HST) or within a medical sleep study room, typically at a local hospital.  

Complications from untreated sleep apnea:

• Heart Attacks
• Strokes
• Diabetes
• Heart Failure
• Irregular Heart Beat
• Obesity
• Alzheimer's Disease
• Premature Death